MCC fights back in fourth set and tops North Platte 3-2

The McCook Community College volleyball team came back from a seven-point deficit late in the fourth set and extended the match to a fifth set where they held on for a 3-2 win over North Platte Community College.

MCC took the first set 25-18 and North Platte claimed the next two sets 25-23 and 25-22.

Down 2-1 in the match and trailing 23-16 in the fourth set, MCC outscored North Platte 11-4 to extend the set and claimed a 29-27 win to tie the match.

"Overall, I'm glad we were able to come back especially down in that fourth set," said MCC Coach Hayley Kobza. "It was definitely a battle and something the girls had to fight for by themselves and nobody could give them that energy but themselves and they did do that."

MCC took the fifth set 15-8 to sweep the season series over the Knights, having topped North Platte 3-0 on the road on Sept. 7.

"We just have to learn how to play consistent and just do the small things and tonight we weren't doing the small things," Kobza said.

Fernanda Merancio (freshman, Lamar, Colo.) paced the MCC attack at the net with 18 kills and six assist blocks.

Freshman Gabby Caskey (Ogallala) had 10 kills, four assist blocks, two solo blocks, one ace and 10 digs. Sophomore Makayla Brown had nine kills, two assist blocks and two aces.

Gracen Tuttle (freshman, Ogallala) had eight assist blocks. Sophomore Victoria Thomas (sophomore, Houston, Texas) had eight kills, two assist blocks and 13 digs.

McKenna Crews (sophomore, Loveland, Colo.) led MCC with 23 digs and had one assist block. Greta Bolognini (freshman, Bergamo Italy/ Parkview Christian, Lincoln, Neb.) had 15 digs and four aces.

"Shoutout to McKenna Crews, she played some phenomenal defense along with Greta," Kobza said.

Alexis Pontine (freshman, Ignacio, Colo.) led MCC with 13 assists. She also had two kills, one assist block and one solo block. Jessie Jerome (freshman, Rawlins, Wyo.) had 13 assists, two kills, one solo block and one assist block.

MCC improves to 12-6 on the season and 4-0 in Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference play. North Platte goes to 5-11 and 0-3 in NCCAC play.

"We have one more practice before this weekend and we have a lot to work on," Kobza said.

On Thursday, MCC begins Region IX play with a pair of road games at Scottsbluff Thursday against Western Nebraska and Friday at Sterling, Colo. against Northeastern Junior College. MCC will return home Tuesday to face Southeast Community College at 7 p.m.

For all the up-to-date information on MCC volleyball this season including, schedules, statistics, rosters and photos, please visit the official website of MCC Athletics at mccindians.com

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Here is a look at the Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference standings and schedule:

NCCAC STANDINGS

                          W – L   PCT.

McCook CC        4 - 0   1.000

Central CC         1 - 1     .500

Southeast CC     0 - 1     .000

North Platte CC  0 - 2     .000

NCCAC RESULTS:

Sept. 7 – McCook CC 3, North Platte CC 0 (at North Platte)

Sept 10 – McCook CC 3, Southeast CC 0 (at Beatrice)

Sept. 14 – McCook CC 3, Central CC 2 (at McCook)

Sept. 15 – Central CC 3, North Platte CC 1 (at North Platte)

Sept. 20 – McCook CC 3, North Platte CC 2 (at McCook)

UPCOMING NCCAC SCHEDULE

Sept. 21 – Southeast CC at Central CC, 6 p.m.

Sept. 27 – Southeast CC at McCook CC, 7 p.m.

Sept. 28 – Southeast CC at North Platte, 6 p.m.

Oct. 4 – McCook CC at Central CC, 6 p.m.

Oct. 6 – North Platte CC at Southeast CC, 6 p.m.

Oct. 12 – Central CC at Southeast CC, 6 p.m.

Oct. 19 – North Platte CC at Central CC, 6 p.m.